And on the seventh day.....

God rested... unless of course he lives in the "View" Where he would be participating in some gun play at the Crack House Apartments! Or so the neighbors say...

Don't know how I missed this one...

Man shot at Ocean View Beach Pub

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - A man was transported toSentara Norfolk General Hospital after an argument led to a shooting in Norfolk early Saturday morning.

According to Karen Parker-Chesson with Norfolk Police Department, a call came into dispatch around 1:37 a.m. on Feb. 11 for a malicious wounding. An adult man was taken to the hospital from a gunshot wound with a non-life threatening injury.

The suspect fled in an unknown direction.

So there is an Armed and Dangerous man cruising around the View... Another reason to pack heat!

Guns, Guns, Guns!

Now this is cute!

Does Kegan want your guns?

She wanted to limit what you could own in 1997 when working for Bill Clinton.

On the Road Again

Well I am off again to the Sand Box for a good amount of time (When this posts, I will be somewhere east of the GMT line cruising along at 35,000ft).

Aside from missing family, friends and every single holiday, birthday and celebration, time for which cannot be replaced. (Like good guidance in college, you can always retake a class, you cannot relive a great party!)   The crappy, fine print side of the contract for selflessly serving our great nation.

Looking back at past deployments I have a short list of things in no particular order that I will miss:
 

1. The Outback Special 12oz, loaded baked potato, Caesars Salad, Shrooms, bloomin onion and washing it all down with an oil can!

2. In-and-Out Burger #1 Animal Style, (Fill in 5 Guys, Wendy's, McD's Fries, basically a good old American fast food hamburger!)

2. Carpet!

3. A sofa!

4. Being able to carry a gun because I want to, not need to.

5. Cogans Pizza.

6. Walmart (Super Target) at 11pm to buy  ice cream and toilet paper (and people watch and carry a gun ORF is rough)

7. Chip Dip

8. Taco Night!

9. Ribs on the back porch.. Not beef ribs either, they are a little too smokey!

10.  The White Trash Party!

11. Dialing whoever whenever I want via cell phone.

12. Immediate access to the best medical care world wide!

13. Cigar Night

14. "Crazy crumbs who is on at 5pm?... CC: Glenn Beck!"

15. Driving!

16. High Speed internet

17. Cable TV  aaah the History, Discovery, Military Fox news channels!

While you stroke your check to Uncle Sam today, you can sleep a little easier knowing that a very tiny portion of your taxes is going to support me and my family... Thank you...

Be good America and I will see you all in 2011!

Baby Shower, Birthday gifts aka stuff for the newborn... (parents edition)

First off, many thanks to the friends and family who have sent warm wishes, gifts and stopped by to welcome the arrival of Deuce.  From a mothers perspective the flowers, cards, meals are wonderful!  I have even included a photo of some of the loot! 

However, as tradition has it, the father sometimes gets left out of the loop.  So, I have take it upon myself to get Deuce a couple of his own gifts that I will safeguard until he is of age to enjoy them.

Happy Birthday Son!

Days 13, 14, 15, 16

Happiness is being behind a belt fed weapon!

Day 13 Thursday Machine Gun Day / Reflexive Fire / Stress Fire

Today was fun, we shot the M240 7.62mm, the M249 5.56mm, and the old faithful "Ma Deuce" at the heart thumping .50 cal or 14.7MM awesome. Unfortunately, with these weapons, there is never enough ammo to go around and we only got 25rnd per person to expend! Boy do they go fast!!!! Sad, but fun none the less.

M2 "Ma Deuce"

  M240

  

M249

Reflexive Fire was fun with lots of turning and shooting from the standing ready position. Stress fire was exactly that, we ran an "obstacle" course while shooting live rounds and the drill instructors were yelling at us.

Day 14 Friday Simulated night fire / Scenario Fire / Building Clearing/ IED Brief

A busy day however a bit relaxed. The night and simulated fire were all conducted in a darkened, "laser tag" building with rifles hooked up to a computer to monitor your "shooting" Kind of neat and an interesting business opportunity. building clearing was just your average class in the MOUT facility to learn how to clear a room or building if you had to. More or less a talk thought with a couple of hands on lessons. I never did kick down the door.

The IED brief was good, however the timing was poor, after lunch on a warm sunny afternoon after a long and busy week! Most of the class had a hard time staying awake which was unfortunate as the information delivered in the 2 hour class was good! This class should have been broken up with some of the more dramatic pieces being delivered the first day of the program to "shock" people into the reason why we are doing all of this training.

Day 15 Saturday Map Reading
Now this class should have been broken up in to smaller "chunks" and delivered from the start of the program. We should have had 4 hours of IED training vice 4 hours of map reading on a SATURDAY! ugh..

What was left of the day was used well and we rented some cars and explored our neighborhood in detail!

Day 16 Sunday Off Day
Not a whole lot was accomplished today other then mental recovery. Slept in late 730am. Went to the officers club for brunch, fantastic. A quick trip to the exchanges, dropped the rental cars off at the airport. Some phone calls, cab rides. Dinner was out on the town via the MWR van to Sumo's Japanese Steak house. My fried rice is still better!

Day 8 Working on a Saturday, what a Bummer!

..and to wake up at 0345 sucks as well. In-spite of waking up early we did have a good day all things considered. No one got killed although some one tried, ( a different story for a different forum) and we got to shoot pistols all morning!




What could be more fun than that?



Well of course Keith and Chandy's annual St. Patty's day party but it looks like I was there for that as well!

However I just guarded the booze and then went to BW3 for some wings after the party!

The sister in the background is really enjoying the fact that I have a 6" tongue!

This is "Odo" a cop from Boston with a REALLY thick accent! Good guy and enjoyed the abuse I gave him as we all got hammered drinking our cokes! Classic Nutz! A little decompression after running around like tools all week long. I did get some new boots today. After we got released a few of us went to the exchange as how all week our "dogs" were barking. The lowest bidder some times is not the best bidder for military Boots. I decided on the Danner Boots!




They just felt good on my foot. I have a pair of Danner's that I wear hunting and they are fantastic. Will let ya know more about these as time goes by!

Day 7 Get some... More!

Another day at the rifle range the "Location of Hit or Miss" trainer.  An electronic contraption that displays where you shoot when you shoot at targets 75M 175M and 300M  I was a "spotter" if you will and sat on the range in front of a computer all day long. When I finally shot, I shot 160 bullets down range in one sitting.  80 with no armor on, 80 with armor on.  A big difference.  Good training, just long days.  Always fun to the pull the trigger.  wake up 0445 Chow at 0530 bus ride to the range at 0600.  At the range until 1400 bus ride home, clean weapons, prep as necessary for next day, chow, shower, rest, repeat!

A couple of observations; my new call sign is "Crocs" for my day glow orange crocs I wear in the shower.  Several of us have very similar political views which is scary and in some ways sad for the way we view the state of our nation politically and economically.  Perma-dirt has set in I will have to take a picture to better explain!  Note the action photo of the ejected bullet flying through the air... They are hot when they land on skin!

Day 6 At the rifle range!

Daaa daaaaa da da da adadadadad da I am Iron Man! Well ok kevlar and ceramic man at the eye popping weight of 42 pounds! Rifle and pistol shooting today. Oh did I mention it was raining! If it aint rainin we aint trainin... Uniform for wet weather is wet fatigues! for some reason we all were talking about motrin on the ride home? Maybe it is that fact that the class average age is 38 or that we sling on our k-pots, vests, camel backs, elbow pads, knee pads, eye protection, ear protection about 5000 times a day? Beware nutz can sling the lead!

TJ Was a wise man...

When we get piled 
upon one another in large cities, as in Europe,
we shall become as corrupt as Europe .
Thomas Jefferson

 
The democracy will cease to exist
when you take away from those
who are willing to work and give to those who would not...

Thomas Jefferson

 
It is incumbent on every
generation to pay its own debts as it goes.
A principle which if acted on would save
one-half the wars of the world. 
Thomas Jefferson

 
I predict future happiness for
Americans if they can prevent the government
from wasting the labors of the people under the
pretense of taking care of them.

Thomas Jefferson  

 
My reading of history convinces me
that most bad government results from too much
government. 
Thomas Jefferson

 
No free man shall ever be debarred
the use of arms. 
Thomas Jefferson

 
The strongest reason for the
people to retain the right to keep and bear arms
is, as a last resort, to protect themselves
against tyranny in government. 
Thomas Jefferson

 
The tree of liberty must be
refreshed from time to time with the blood of
patriots and tyrants. 
Thomas Jefferson

 
To compel a man to subsidize with
his taxes the propagation of ideas which he
disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical...

Thomas Jefferson

 
Thomas  Jefferson said in 1802:
'I believe that banking institutions

are more dangerous to our liberties 

than standing armies.
If the American people ever allow
private banks to control the issue of their
currency, first by inflation, then by
deflation, the banks and corporations that will
grow up around the banks will deprive the people
of all property - until their children
wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers
conquered.'

For a close friend

and cigar smoking bud...

Holster Follow up

I forgot to mention where I purchased my holsters...In case you wanted to get a Galco holster of your own Amazon has some good deals.

Ye, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil.

..for I am the meanest Mo-Fo in the Valley!

I think George Patton coined that little phrase?!  Anyhow if Uncle Sugar will have to pull these off of the thunder sticks currently used by our forces on account of political correctness then I can imagine a price drop for us civilian consumers, at least in the short term?!

If in doubt empty a magazine!

Lobby Day In Richmond

Thanks to all the folks from VCDL and HRTP that are on their way to Richmond to "lobby" the politicians and convince/remind them who they are working for!

Gun owners to descend on Virginia General Assembly in Richmond (Martin
Luther King Day, Monday, Jan. 18th, 2010)

Complete Transformation of Gun Rights Laws Sought for 2010

As in years past, hundreds of members of the Virginia citizens Defense
League will gather at the General Assembly in Richmond at 9AM on the
morning of Martin Luther King Day (Monday, Jan. 18th, 2010) to conduct
coordinated lobby operations. Some will drive for hours to attend and
stay overnight in Richmond area hotels.

The theme for the 2010 VCDL Lobby day is "Transforming Gun Rights in
Virginia."

Bills have been filed already to (1) repeal the ban on concealed carry
in restaurants that serve alcoholic beverages, (2) repeal the ban on
purchasing more than one handgun a month, (3) allow a concealed handgun
permit holder to carry a concealed handgun in any government facility
being used as an emergency shelter, and (4) to streamline the
application process for concealed handgun permits by (a) allowing
applicants to apply for permits by mail and (b) without having to submit
to fingerprinting.

NOTE: Only a very few other states ban concealed carry in restaurants
that serve alcoholic beverages or ration handgun purchases, and 75% of
Virginia localities do NOT require fingerprinting anyway, including
Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William Counties, and the City of Richmond.

Throughout Lobby Day, hundreds of gun owning constituents wearing "Guns
Save Lives" stickers will visit legislators and staff members to discuss
the VCDL gun rights agenda, drop off the VCDL legislative analysis white
paper, and attend committee hearings. Many of these law-abiding
citizens will be carrying loaded handguns and bringing friends, family,
and kids in tow.

VCDL Lobby Day culminates in a rally on the capitol clock tower green at
11AM to listen to pro-gun rights leaders and speakers - videos of past
rallies can be found at VCDL.org's main page.

VCDL’s Lobby Day 2010 activities are summarized at
http://www2.vcdl.org/webapps/vcdl/vadetail.html?RECID=4582849

VCDL’s 2010 gun bill tracker can be found at
http://www.vcdl.org/static/2010leg.html and will be updated every day
the General Assembly is in session.

Media Contact:

Philip Van Cleave
President, VCDL
804-639-0600
President@vcdl.org

Attacking the 2nd Ammendment

A re-post from John and others... 

 

I have no idea if this is on the level; but, if it is true, it would be consistent with the aims of Obama and Eric Holder, US Attorney General. 

It sure would be easier for Obama to establish his "National Civilian Security Force" if folks like us were disarmed!  I know that I may seem fixated on the NCSF; but, when Obama took the time to mention it in his speech back on 2 July 2008, he intends to pursue its establishment.

John

On Wednesday the Obama administration took its first major step in a plan to ban all firearms in the United States. 

The Obama administration intends to force gun control and a complete ban on all weapons for US citizens through the signing of international treaties with foreign nations. 

By signing international treaties on gun control, the Obama administration can use the US State Department to bypass the normal legislative process in Congress.

Once the US Government signs these international treaties, all US citizens will be subject to those gun laws created by foreign governments. 

These are laws that have been developed and promoted by organizations such as the United Nations and individuals such as George Soros and Michael Bloomberg.

The laws are designed and intended to lead to the complete ban and confiscation of all firearms.

The Obama administration is attempting to use tactics and methods of gun control that will inflict major damage to our 2nd Amendment before US citizens even understand what has happened.

Obama can appear before the public and tell them that he does not intend to pursue any legislation (in the United States) that will lead to new gun control laws, while cloaked in secrecy, his Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton is committing the US to international treaties and foreign gun control laws.

Does that mean Obama is telling the truth?

What it means is that there will be no publicized gun control debates in the media or votes in Congress. 

We will wake up one morning and find that the United States has signed a treaty that prohibits firearm and ammunition manufacturers from selling to the public. 

We will wake up another morning and find that the US has signed a treaty that prohibits any transfer of firearm ownership. And then, we will wake up yet another morning and find that the US has signed a treaty that requires US citizens to deliver any firearm they own to the local government collection and destruction center or face imprisonment.

This is not a joke nor a false warning. As sure as government health care will be forced on us by the Obama administration through whatever means necessary,  so will gun control.

Read the Article

U.S. reverses stance on treaty to regulate arms trade

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States reversed policy on Wednesday and said it would back launching talks on a treaty to regulate arms sales as long as the talks operated by consensus, a stance critics said gave every nation a veto.

The decision, announced in a statement released by the U.S. State Department, overturns the position of former President George W. Bush's administration, which had opposed such a treaty on the grounds that national controls were better. View The Full Article Here http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSTRE59E0Q920091015 14 Nov. 2009
<http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSTRE59E0Q920091015>

Holsters

I am relatively new to the whole concept of carrying a weapon while cruising around town.  As a military type the options are plentiful yet limited in some ways.  Your holster will either be on a web belt, a shoulder holster, affixed in some fashion to your body armor or drop leg type. As a civilian the options are much more plentiful.  I like the idea of concealed however the weapon of choice does not "conceal" well on account of it size. 

I have worked so far with three different arrangements; London Bridge shoulder holster, Blackhawk CQC paddle and most recently a Galco model CM248.  All have their inherent advantages and disadvantages. 

The shoulder holster is some sense in my personal favorite.  I can balance the weapon out with a couple of extra magazines or a mag and a light and the gear all but disappears.  A disadvantage is access, the holster is usually under a shirt or a jacket and getting to it causes a little bit of an issue.  Additionally, the cross member on the neck rides a little funny from time to time.  However when on the bike, hunting or doing active things the shoulder holster is the perfect fit. 

The CQC holster is by far the quickest access of the three different types.  Lift push the retaining lever and pull and you are ready for action.  However this holster is a little harder to conceal and does not "ride" well when driving or sitting for long periods. 

My most recent purchase, the Galco holster, fits snugly to my hip, conceals well and "rides" well.  I wore this the other day out shopping, hauling kids in and out of cars, loading groceries and my wife did not even notice that I was carrying.  A disadvantage is the removal of the weapon from the holster.  Not the quickest or cleanest of the three. 

Now this is an intersting Blog post

The Doctrine of the Three Percent 

We will not disarm.

You cannot convince us.

You cannot intimidate us.

You can try to kill us, if you think you can.

But remember, we'll shoot back.

And we are not going away.

Your move.

2010

WOW!

Only two times a year in OV is there a question, are those "pops" and "bangs" fireworks or gunshots?!

New Year's Eve and the Forth of July....

Happy New Year, now it is time to return fire!

God Bless our Founding Fathers

"A strong body makes the mind strong. As to the species of exercises, I advise the gun. While this gives moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprise and independence to the mind. Games played with the ball, and others of that nature, are too violent for the body and stamp no character on the mind. Let your gun therefore be your constant companion of your walks." --Thomas Jefferson, letter to Peter Carr, 1785